SHORTAGE OF DOCTORS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 22367, 14 September 1934, Page 10

SHORTAGE OF DOCTORS

MANY POSITIONS UNFILLED MEDICAL SCHOOL POLICY CRITICISED ' (Pee United Press Association.) HAMILTON, September 13. An anomalous position concerning the supply of doctors was referred to by Mr J. Banks, of Rotorua, at a meeting of the Waikato Hospital Board to-day. Mr Banks pointed out that students were not being accepted for the Medical School at Dunedin because the authorities claimed that there were too many trained doctors in New Zealand for the work available. On the other hand, the hospital boards were finding it difficult to secure the services of doctors. For 68 positions offered recently, only 30 applications were forthcoming. The chairman, Mr J. J. Ryburn, said there was no doubt that the board had difficulty in obtaining doctors. _ At present one was wanted for Waikato Hospital and another for Rotorua. EFFICIENCY OF TRAINING OBJECTIVE OF MEDICAL SCHOOL. When the foregoing message was referred to Dr C. E. Hercus, sub-dean of the Medical Faculty, ho stated that it did not accurately represent the position. The authorities at the Medical School, he pointed out, were not primarily concerned with the needs of the Dominion in the matter of a supply of doctors, but their main objective was the effective training of the men who went through the school. That could only be done when the numbers coming forward preserved a more or loss uniform level. As a result of somewhat violent fluctuations in the numbers during recent years, an abnormal position had arised, and it was with a view to discussing the matter in all its bearings that a sub-committee of the senate of the University of New Zealand was at present visiting Dunedin. Dr Hercus went on to say that, it the level of graduates could Ire kept at between 60 and 55 per year, efficient results from the point of view of producing well-trained doctors could be obtained, but as soon as there was a marked reduction or increase of that number dislocation was the result. When tlie number fell to 30 or 35, as had been the case in recent years, the dislocation was revealed in a shortage of house surgeons, and when the number rose above what might be considered normal level a prejudicial effect was likely to be experienced in the efficiency of the training. Another authority to whom the matter was referred stated that the requirements of the hospital boards of the Dominion in respect of house surgeons were out of all proportion to the population demands, and, though there were many channels of absorption, difficulty would undoubtedly arise in subsequently placing all the men to whom the hospital boards were offering positions. So many of the smaller hospital boards were now wanting house surgeons that the supply was not; sufficient to go round, and, if enough men were turned out to fill all the positions, they would at a later date find themselves stranded. “ The prospects of making a living in the Dominion are not too bright now,” he remarked. “The population has reached a more or lees stable basis, and the opportunities for practice are restricted.’*